How long have the endzone seats been there? I feel like it has been a long time

(08-27-2014 09:17 AM)62Indian Wrote:  Front Page of the Daily Press Sports pages today: 12,259 is Zable Stadium capacity, "which will not be significently impacted by renovations". This is a direct quote from W&M Press Release.

However, a potentially ominious statement in the body of the Press Release; "the renovation will increase the number of PERMANENT SEATS between the 30 yard lines" [wonder what they mean by "permanent seats"?]

At the meetings held earlier in the summer to discuss the planned renovations there were no plans or drawings presented - the concept of an "Upper Deck" as pictured was never discussed . I left the meeting with the concept of the West Stands being extended behind the existing stands with the Press and VIP boxes on the top of the extended stands.

I do like the concept and "looks" of the new plans as presented.

That is exactly what the renderings show. The "upper deck" does not hang over the existing seats, but is simply an additional extension posteriorly.

Permanent seats is simply implying not temporary (as in the endzone bleachers). I doubt they mean seatbacks etc...although I would be several sections would have seatbacks.

They've been there since 1976 (my freshman year). Can't speak to earlier years. The North End Zone bleachers were larger, but then down-sized to make way for the tents.

Something the bleachers offer that no other section does is proximity to the field. If being right up next to what is happening is important, the bleachers are the best bet. I just can't see them taking them away. But as it was pointed out, everyone should email in and voice support.


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(08-27-2014 11:00 AM)TDenverFan Wrote:  How long have the endzone seats been there? I feel like it has been a long time

At least since the 50s I think.

In addition to the environment they provide, they also offer a discount off sideline seats, which some prefer, particularly bigger groups.

(08-27-2014 11:35 AM)Sitting bull Wrote:  

(08-27-2014 11:00 AM)TDenverFan Wrote:  How long have the endzone seats been there? I feel like it has been a long time

At least since the 50s I think.

In addition to the environment they provide, they also offer a discount off sideline seats, which some prefer, particularly bigger groups.

I just watched the announcement video on youtube, and there's a shot at the 3:20 mark that shows a black and white shot of a packed house with pretty sizable bleachers in the endzone and small bleachers at the corners. No date on the photo, but looks pretty old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g_LadGPhlE

(08-26-2014 06:53 PM)Tribe4SF Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 06:34 PM)Sitting bull Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 12:37 PM)62Indian Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 12:03 PM)hktribefan Wrote:  Here's the tribeathletics.com piece on the renovation:

http://www.tribeathletics.com/ViewArticl...M_ID=25100

On the Q&A it addresses endzone seating and says the plan is for that to still be available, thought it also says that total capacity would only be a slight increase, if at all. Based on the artist rendering and the plans that surfaced awhile ago I don't see how there isn't a growth of 2,500-3,000 in total capacity. I guess in some circles that is only a slight increase, but a little over a 20% increase for Zable seems considerable to me.

As I understand it; we will add about 3,000 seats on the new upper deck stands; HOWEVER, we will lose about 3,000 seats in the old, currently existing East and West Stands. Federal regulations apparently require that the seats be wider than they are in the present stadium, [so, fewer seats in the existing space] also, the steps/aisle going up will be made wider and will include handrails in the middle of the aisles for safety. [resulting in less space for seats] At the meeting, Driscoll stated that they cold not provide "final numbers" re the number of seats until the architectural plans were finalized.

Well, the last feedback you provided a month or two ago didn't even mention the upper deck, just the new press box and fan boxes.

With 3,000 NEW seats in the upper deck (plus new boxes) there is no way capacity stays the same. They might widen the aisles, they may widen the seats - but the rendition shows the same sections the stadium currently has. By my math, they would have to cut about 200 seats per section (about 40%!) to keep it at today's capacity.

The issue is the end zone seats which I am confident they will retain. It is too locked in as part of the overall environment to shed. Maybe smaller on the south side but overall, we will be between 14,000 and 15,000 capacity when finished.

Make sure you have expressed your opinion on end zone seating to Terry Driscoll and Bobby Dwyer. Do it by email and include your name. At the meeting to gain feedback Terry said the following.

"I've had someone say that they wished their view of the architecture of Zable was unimpeded by the endzone seating"

This is what we are dealing with. Leave nothing to chance.

My plan is to make a donation but to file the money toward setting up the end zone stands each year.

I just sent an email to Terry and Bobby in support of keeping endzone seating.

(08-27-2014 11:48 AM)hktribefan Wrote:  

(08-27-2014 11:35 AM)Sitting bull Wrote:  

(08-27-2014 11:00 AM)TDenverFan Wrote:  How long have the endzone seats been there? I feel like it has been a long time

At least since the 50s I think.

In addition to the environment they provide, they also offer a discount off sideline seats, which some prefer, particularly bigger groups.

I just watched the announcement video on youtube, and there's a shot at the 3:20 mark that shows a black and white shot of a packed house with pretty sizable bleachers in the endzone and small bleachers at the corners. No date on the photo, but looks pretty old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g_LadGPhlE

Pretty sure that was the UNC game in the early 50s

(08-27-2014 11:48 AM)hktribefan Wrote:  

(08-27-2014 11:35 AM)Sitting bull Wrote:  

(08-27-2014 11:00 AM)TDenverFan Wrote:  How long have the endzone seats been there? I feel like it has been a long time

At least since the 50s I think.

In addition to the environment they provide, they also offer a discount off sideline seats, which some prefer, particularly bigger groups.

I just watched the announcement video on youtube, and there's a shot at the 3:20 mark that shows a black and white shot of a packed house with pretty sizable bleachers in the endzone and small bleachers at the corners. No date on the photo, but looks pretty old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g_LadGPhlE

The photo was from the 1948 game against UNC and was the largest crowd in Cary history up until the 18k that was crammed in to watch The Tribe beat UR

Anyone else notice our renovation/add-on architects, BCHW Architects and McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, are the same firms that built UR's Robins Stadium?

From the firm's website: BCWH selected for W&M Zable Stadium Project
We are excited to announce that BCWH Architects and McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture were recently selected by the College of William and Mary for the planning and design of renovations and an addition to the Walter J. Zable Stadium. This project will increase permanent seating capacity, improve the fan experience, as well as provide a new press and club level areas. In collaboration with MPS, our team also recently completed a master plan study for Christy Mathewson Memorial Stadium at Bucknell University and the new E. Claiborne Robins Stadium at the University of Richmond.
Go Tribe!


This group won the Virginia AIA Merit Award for Contextual Design in 2013 for their work on Robins Stadium.

http://bcwh.com/bcwh-wins-virginia-aia-m...al-design/

Looks like they also did Martin Family Stadium. The pictures of what they did with the Richmond club level areas and concession areas give me hope that new Zable could be a pretty great thing. If anything they will be able to do more since Robins was $28 million for the entire stadium. I know there is a lot to be done bringing everything up to code, but I think they'll be able to do a really good job.

(08-27-2014 01:01 PM)Tribe Fan Wrote:  

(08-27-2014 11:48 AM)hktribefan Wrote:  

(08-27-2014 11:35 AM)Sitting bull Wrote:  

(08-27-2014 11:00 AM)TDenverFan Wrote:  How long have the endzone seats been there? I feel like it has been a long time

At least since the 50s I think.

In addition to the environment they provide, they also offer a discount off sideline seats, which some prefer, particularly bigger groups.

I just watched the announcement video on youtube, and there's a shot at the 3:20 mark that shows a black and white shot of a packed house with pretty sizable bleachers in the endzone and small bleachers at the corners. No date on the photo, but looks pretty old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g_LadGPhlE

The photo was from the 1948 game against UNC and was the largest crowd in Cary history up until the 18k that was crammed in to watch The Tribe beat UR

Is there a track in that photo? Looks like small seating sections right in the location of the track.

I noticed there are a few places where you can click to donate to the Zable project. Is the plan to raise the remaining $5 million through donations like that, or is there a more targeted campaign? I assume there will be some kind of donation required to purchase a box, though the only thing I saw about boxes was that interested parties should contact Bobby Dwyer.

If I can't stand in the endzone and listen to Sandy and the grumpy old guys from the Muppets every game, I am not sure what I will do.

After all my grousing about the stadium, I have to admit that i'm very impressed with the proposed renovations. Given that we cannot ditch the track, or move the entire facility to a new location - I think that the College has presented a masterful renovation. I also really like the new entry point for the home-side stands. Do we know if this will lead to restrictions in the ability of fans to "meander around" after entering the stands?

(08-28-2014 01:00 PM)ttgwm02 Wrote:  After all my grousing about the stadium, I have to admit that i'm very impressed with the proposed renovations. Given that we cannot ditch the track, or move the entire facility to a new location - I think that the College has presented a masterful renovation. I also really like the new entry point for the home-side stands. Do we know if this will lead to restrictions in the ability of fans to "meander around" after entering the stands?

It looks like that just adds an entrance and the ability to wander still exists. Again, that's just me looking at an artists rendition.